In the news today: Manitoba politicians make final pitch before tomorrow’s election

By The Canadian Press on October 2, 2023.

Here is a roundup of stories from The Canadian Press designed to bring you up to speed on what you need to know today…

Last push for politicians before Manitoba election

Manitoba politicians are making their final pitches to voters today in advance of tomorrow’s provincial election.

The Progressive Conservatives are expected to release full details of their platform, after having released weekly tallies of the costs of their promises.

Opinion polls have suggested the NDP are in a lead over the incumbent Tories, although Leader Wab Kinew has urged his supporters to not take anything for granted.

Voters head to polls in Quebec byelection

Residents of the hotly contested Quebec City riding of Jean-Talon are voting in a byelection today.

Coalition Avenir Québec’s Joelle Boutin triggered the byelection when she quit politics this summer.

Premier François Legault went door knocking in the riding one week ago with his candidate, Marie-Anik Shoiry.

Shoiry is facing off against Pascal Paradis of the Parti Québécois, whose party is polling second to the CAQ provincewide.

Here’s what else we’re watching …

Quebec public-sector unions continue to see strong support for strike mandates

Quebec’s public sector workers continue to give their unions strong backing to go on strike if they’re unable to successfully negotiate new contracts with the provincial government, the federations said at about the half-way point of the voting process.

The four unions, which represent around 420,000 education, health care and social service workers, say more than 90 per cent of members who have participated in votes have supported a strike mandate.

The labour groups, which are working together, have been asking their members to back strike mandates since mid-September, with voting scheduled to continue until Oct. 13.

Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock

As expectations rise that interest rates will stay higher for longer, experts are warning that mortgage holders will face some sharp payment increases in the years ahead.

TD economist Maria Solovieva says most people who have secured a fixed-rate mortgage since 2018 can expect higher payments ahead because interest rates will come down much slower than they’ve gone up.

Variable rate mortgage holders have already seen their payments surge by more than 49 per cent on average, according to Bank of Canada data, but many fixed rate holders still haven’t felt the sharp rise in rates.

Imperial, regulator knew of tailings seepage: docs

Documents from Imperial Oil show the company and Alberta’s energy regulator knew the Kearl oilsands mine was seeping tailings into groundwater years before contaminated fluid was reported to be pooling on the surface.

That event triggered a protection order from the Alberta Energy Regulator in the spring.

It also sparked three investigations and alarmed area First Nations.

Imperial’s groundwater monitoring reports to the regulator show test wells were finding tailings in groundwater as far back as 2020.